In Carrie’s classroom, Jesus is shaping hearts and minds for his kingdom

The school partners with a local academy to provide a quality education for mission worker children. The mission teachers help create a learning environment that blends academics with Christian values. Two years after starting to ask questions, Carrie found herself stepping into a classroom full of eager faces – exactly where God knew she’d be.

Being away from her close-knit family has been difficult, but Carrie has found strength in the fellowship of other mission workers, who she lives alongside on the same compound as the school and the SIM hospital.

She says, “Within the first week of arriving, different families had me and two other new colleagues  over for dinner” she recalls. “With SIM, we meet once a week for prayer, and those times are so important for staying connected and supported.”

There’s something special about sharing a meal and praying together. It’s a reminder that, even when you’re far from home, you’re never truly alone. God’s presence is felt and experienced through the unity of his people.

In much the same way, Carrie’s classroom is a place of unity and joy, where hard work is balanced with fun. Alongside the lessons, she has traditions like read aloud time after lunchtime. Her students really look forward to performing in front of their parents and the people on the compound.

I want the kids to know they are loved, to know the Lord, and to be able to withstand the struggles of life.

The school has its own set of unique challenges. With just three teachers, they are stretched thin, teaching across three different grade levels.  On top of that, the electricity supply is unreliable, so the fans and lights often  stop working, leaving both teachers and students feeling tired. The intermittent internet adds another layer of difficulty. Amid all these challenges, Carrie sees God’s provision at work, through the support of her teaching assistants and also through God’s hand.

She remembers a time when the children needed a stable internet connection to complete an important exam they had worked hard for. The connection had periodically stopped working, and she worried they wouldn’t be able to finish. But , as she puts it, “by God’s grace, just when it mattered most, the internet held steady long enough for them to complete their exam. It was such a small thing, yet it reminded me that God is in both the little and big details of our lives.” As much as she loves her students, she knows that God loves and cares for them even more.

Carrie’s heart is focused on deepening her students’ understanding of God’s word and helping them grow closer to him. “I want them to enjoy the time we have together, soaking up God’s truth and knowing him more deeply” she shares.

She also has hopes for the broader school community, praying that the children will not only excel in their studies but also be equipped to face the struggles of life with the love of Christ in their hearts. She says, “I want the kids to know they are loved, to know the Lord, and to be able to withstand the struggles of life”.

More than just a teacher, Carrie – and other teachers like her – play an important role in these children’s spiritual growth. Through scripture, stories, memorising Bible verses, and everyday conversations, she is planting God’s word in their hearts, nurturing a love for the bible, and teaching them to find comfort and strength in God’s promises.